Idiot with a Tripod

byJames FurbushonDecember 30, 2010

What happens when Astoria, NY resident, Jamie Stuart, shoots a short movie during last weekend’s blizzard as an homage to the 1929 movie “Man With a Movie Camera”? Well, for starters, no less than Roger Ebert has this to say about the short: “You can tell from the cinematography he knew exactly what he was doing and how to do it. He held the Vertov film in memory. Stuart must already been thinking of how he would do the edit and sound. Any professional will tell you the talent exhibited here is extraordinary.”

Ebert also went on to say that the movie should win an Academy Award for best live-action short subject. Yowzahs. The interview between Ebert and Stuart is a nice slice of movie goodness. [via gothamist]

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Nice film, but I don't think it's even close to Oscar quality. I too shot a 2min short film in the UK when the snow fell incredibly hard last month. I also turned the film around in 24 hours.

But it isn't in NY, it's just a sleepy little fishing town in East Yorkshire (UK). I filmed it on a 5 year old Sony Z1 camera, and edited it on an equally as old Final Cut Pro system.

I just wish that someone would discover MY films and cause them explode on the net like Ebert has done with this film. You could argue the my film isn't as good, but the fact is there are countless filmmakers submitting films online, which are easily as good if not better, every single day.

All I wanna know is what qualifies 'Idiot' to be so ahead of the pack? We filmmakers, from all over the world, are trying to make a name for ourselves, and Eberts ravings are almost like a kick in the guts for the rest of us…

What are we supposed to strive for now in order to get recognised? This whole episode is almost telling me "don't try so hard".

So, that being said, I would humbly appreciate any support and interest you have in viewing 'Let it Snow': http://vimeo.com/17217630

Now I'm not saying that I think my film is Oscar worthy either, I'm just saying…

I don't know man, I've always wondered that myself. At least in terms of what makes on blog/site more popular, better read, etc. than another. It's an elusive thing. I guess at the end of the day, I try not to get too caught up in that sentiment because I'd probably just end up bitter than not enough people read this site, or rather as many as I think should be reading it. But I have to appreciate and respect the ones that do, right?

On another note, I really really like "Let it Snow" you should be proud of the film you made. We'll try posting it later today!

Nice film. I too shot a 2min short film in the UK when the snow fell incredibly hard last month. I also turned the film around in 24 hours.

But it isn’t in NY, but just a little fishing town in East Yorkshire (UK). I filmed it on a 5 year old Sony Z1 camera, and edited it on an equally as old Final Cut Pro system.

I just wish that someone would discover my films and make them explode on the net like this film. I don’t wish to blow my own trumpet, but I believe my film could be good enough! : ) …did I mention I’ve been unemployed for 18 months? lol

I guess… perhaps if you can see it, as Ebert did, as a Vertov homage. Otherwise, and frankly, it seemed like a rather dull, affected bit of "see my cute use of panning and editing and sequencing to tell a very short, listless story about buildings and roads and people with snow on them". I suppose as a display of home movie technique, put together quickly, it's more than fine, but it didn't tell me much of a story, or create much conflict, other than the forced splicing of "will they get unstuck" at the end. To me, it's pretty well done, but little else.

I would agree with those sentiments. And I suppose, I was impressed, simply watching this as an exercise in home movie making. In something that was done quickly. In something that was aesthetically interesting. No, it wasn't the most impressive short film I've watched. Not even the most impressive this week. However, it was still pretty good and really good considering how quickly the entire thing was completed start to finish.